6 Tips for Protecting Your Identity When Moving

If you're planning a move to one of our Springs apartment communities in Southwest Florida, it's no longer enough to protect your furnishings and other possessions. Moving from one location to another puts your personal information at risk for identity theft.

Safeguard birth certificates, credit card numbers and other private data with these helpful hints.

• Submit a change of address form with the U.S. Post Office at least two weeks before you move so mail doesn't end up in limbo. You can do this online at your convenience and receive an immediate email confirmation.
• Go the extra mile and notify banks, credit card companies and other specific companies directly so you're covered in case of mishandled mail.

If you’ll be having an outside company handle your move, do some careful research to verify their professionalism and trustworthiness. Our Springs management team has some great suggestions for vetting a prospective moving company.

While you're paring down unnecessary possessions, do the same with your personal documents and shred any outdated paperwork. Have a secure, locked place to store current materials and transport them with you in the car.

Don't assume that data on your phone, laptop or tablet is secure, especially if you may be stopping at hotels or restaurants with public Wi-Fi.

• Use a variety of strong, hard-to-hack passwords.
• Whenever possible, avoid accessing sites with financial information when you're in a public place.
• Never pack digital devices away with other items. Keep them with you at all times.

Personally overseeing the moving process reduces the chance of items "disappearing."

Getting settled in your new home doesn't mean you're out of the woods just yet. It can take a while for any suspicious activity to crop up. Carefully examine banking and credit card statements and check your credit score regularly. (Many credit card companies now provide free FICO scores to cardholders, and once a year you can request free credit reports from each of the Big 3 reporting companies.)

At Springs Apartments, your safety and security is important to us. Our on-site management team is available to accept deliveries for you and keep an eye on your apartment during an extended absence. Stop by and let us know if you have any questions or concerns.